When we fell four points behind ten minutes into the second half of the East Cork Junior B Grade Football Final in Ballynoe on Saturday, November 15th 2014, few in the fair sized attendance would have give us much of a chance of winning the Boig Coleman Cup for the fourth time. We had a great start but were three points in arrears at the break. We brought it down to two but a brace of points by Castlelyons doubled their lead. The shutters were really put up and we conceded no score in the last twenty minutes and proceeded to kick five points in a row for a great win. This was a great game of football played in Ballynoe on a near perfect surface -great credit to the St. Catherines Club for taking the fixture at twenty four hours notice after torrential rain rendered Glenville unplayable on Friday evening. As 2014 County Championship winners Castlelyons were probably favourites in many peoples mind but in local derby 'old firm' games anything can happen. Before the game a minutes silence was observed in memory of the late Noel Mulcahy of Boulta, Ballynoe. Though playing against a stiffish breeze we got the perfect start when Cian O Connor finished a great move to the net, a great score which got the contest off to a cracking start. With Brendan Walsh and Liam Forde in command at midfield we enjoyed an abundance of possession and should have had at least two more points. Good work from Daniel Dooley and Jerome assisted Sean Ryan with a great opportunity but the defence cleared. Scores were hard to come by and good defensive work by Brenny O Driscoll and Barry Murphy and Shane meant the Castlelyons forwards got no easy kicks - they kicked three wides before their first point in the eleventh minute. Shane Kearney and Donncha Carr swept the ball downfield to Cian who was fouled going through.  Team captain Barry Johnson kicked over a point from the resultant free to restore our goal lead in the thirteenth minute. Castlelyons then enjoyed their best period of the match  and four points in a row-two from frees, saw the County champions take the lead in the twenty third minute. We lost Gavin O Flynn through injury and in truth in the last five minutes of the first half we were all over the place. Several good moves we put together broke down with the last pass and the Castlelyons backs were flying. Two more white flags saw Castlelyons go into a 7 points to 1  1 lead and that's how it was at the short whistle. We hadn't scored for the last seventeen minutes which was very worrying after such a bright start. We would have the breeze in the second half but in reality it wasn't a significant advantage and as we know the wind never won a game for anyone.  Magnificent point from Brendan Walsh in the third minute really rallied the team but we didn’t build on this. Indeed it was Castlelyons who kicked the next two points to lead by 0 -9 to 1- 2 after eight second half minutes. A minute later sub Jason Pratt, (playing in his first game since getting a serious leg injury in the All Ireland Hurling sevens in early September) initiated a move which ended with Jerome kicking his first point. We kicked three points in a five minute period of dominance but we were still three points behind with ten minutes to go. A great save by Frank Hogan was vital and inspirational. Subs Terry Broderick, Sean O Brien and Stephen Pratt all threw themselves into the contest as we strove to come to terms with Castlelyons. After great defending from Tadhg O Sullivan and Barry Murphy and a gut-busting solo run Brendan Walsh kicked his second point -just two down now with nine minutes left. It was noticeable that our backs were winning more ball and the team as a unit began to show that gutsy bravery that Rovers teams are renowned for. Jerome brought the deficit down to the minimum with seven minutes left. Sean O Brien kicked a great point and we were on level terms for the first time since the 20th minute. Castlelyons had a wide from a good chance to take the lead. The game was now in the last five minutes and was there for the team that would finish the strongest. We were awarded a free about thirty yards out and amid terrific excitement Terry Broderick who missed the 1993 Final through injury, kicked the leather over the bar for a brilliant lead point. Almost unbelievably we were a point up in a game where we had struggled for ages. In the 30th minute, Castlelyons had an attempt at a levelling score drift wide. There was still time to play. We attacked and had a chance to double our lead. The attack was repulsed and Castlelyons tore down the field to try and kick a late, late equalizer. The referee Arthur Murphy blew the final whistle and we were the champions. Oh what a game and the result was a deserved prize for a great bunch of lads who never know when to quit. The heart and determination they displayed was just typical of the Bride Rovers spirit that has helped in so many games over the decades. Sometimes we win and sometimes we lose but the main thing is to leave it all on the field, do your best and then there can be no regrets. That's the way it was on Saturday last. Well done lads -everyone in the parish and Club are very proud of ye.

When we played the first round of this championship against Cloyne in October we were short a dozen players because of previous engagements. Thanks to all those who 'stood in' that day to ensure a win. Some of these players were not subsequently involved but only for ye lads we couldn't have won the East Cork title.

 Frank Hogan, Tadhg O Sullivan, Brenny O Driscoll, Gavin O Flynn, Shane Walsh, Barry Murphy, Shane Kearney, Liam Forde, Brendan Walsh (0 2), Donncha Carr, Sean Ryan, Barry Johnson, Captain (0 1), Jerome O Driscoll (0  2), Cian O Connor ( 1 0), Daniel Dooley.

Subs Jason Pratt, Terry Broderick (0-1), Sean O Brien(0 -1), Stephen Pratt. In total we played over thirty players in the four game v Cloyne, Russell Rovers, Glenville and Castlelyons. This was our fourth win in this competition, the previous victories being 1981, 1993, and 2009 and this was by far the hardest won title. We struggled to gain a victory over Glenville's third team the week before in Lisgoold and that performance certainly didn't augur well for the Final but the performance in Ballynoe will be spoken of around the firesides in the parish for many the winter night ahead.

After the game the Chairman of the East Cork Board Dick Fitzgerald presented the cup to a worthy captain Barry Johnson. Barry thanked all the players and our selectors. He also thanked the referee and his officials and then called for three cheers for Castlelyons. Tom Kearney 1981, John Joe Barry 1993 and Alan Broderick in 2009 were our other winning captains.

A special word of praise for our team trainer Vincent Cronin and his selectors Pat Murphy, Daniel Lane and Shane O Connor and also Alan O Keeffe who was part of the backroom team. These men put in a huge effort to promote football in the club and thankfully they masterminded a great victory.

After the photos it was back to the banks of the Bride for a great night's celebrations.

Special thanks to Pat Hartigan and Dave Hoare of the St. Catherines club for their assistance and to the Glenville Club for the programme. Best of luck to Castlelyons, who are out in the Munster Junior B Football competition this weekend.

 

This was our sixth East Cork Junior 'B' Football final. To date we've won four 1981, 1993, 2009  2014  & 2019 and lost two:

1981 Bride Rovers 1-10   Youghal 0-4

1989 Bride Rovers 1-6    Aghada 1-7   Lost 

1993 Bride Rovers 1-8    Glanmire 1-4

2008 Bride Rovers 0-6    CarrignabhFear 1-4  Lost 

2009 Bride Rovers 4 -8   Russell Rovers 2 -2  

2014 Bride Rovers 1-7    Castlelyons 0-9